In Friday’s (11/23) Missoulian (Montana), Rob Chaney writes, “The Missoula Symphony Orchestra has become so attached to its music director, Darko Butorac, that its board of directors has granted him a new three-year contract. ‘There wasn’t much debate about the fact we wanted to retain Darko,’ Missoula Symphony board president Tom Copley said. ‘He challenges the orchestra to a level that over his first two contracts, they’ve grown to like it and it makes them better. We’ve also heard from our listeners that the orchestra has become better musically.’ … Butorac, who grew up in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, serves as a guest conductor with European orchestras three or four times a year. He also visits podiums around the United States. ‘That’s making him a better conductor, and adds to his resume,’ Copley said. ‘And it helps make the Missoula Symphony Orchestra better.’ … And the results have shown up in consistently increasing ticket sales over the past several years, according to MSO executive director John Driscoll. The 58-year-old orchestra puts on five programs a season, plus the free Symphony in the Park in August, a youth concert for school children and a family concert. It now has an annual budget of about $500,000.”
Posted November 26, 2012
